Box with fully telescoped hinged cover



Aug 29, 1967 A. HY KOSSOFF ET AL 3,338,504

BOX WITH FULLY TELESCOPED HINGED COVER` Filed Oct. 22, 1965 UnitedStates Patent tilice 3,338,504 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,504 BOX WITHFULLY TELESCOPED HINGED COVER Arnold H. Kossoff and Irwin I. Kossod,both of 67 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211 Filed Oct. 22, 1965,Ser. No. 500,683 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-33) This invention relates to boxesformed of corrugated paper or the like, and in particular, to a boxstructure wherein a fully telescoped hinged cover is provided thuscombining advantages of a set-up type box with the unique advantagesderived from the use of diecut unusual -geometric shapes found infolding box structures.

Set-up boxes are manufactured and supplied in finished form, ready foruse, and are to be distinguished from other types of packagingcontainers, such, for example, as the knock-down or collapsible boxcommonly used by department stores for packaging small articles ofclothing or by bakeries and similar establishments for packaginglightweight articles for delivery. The knock-down box is commonlysupplied in collapsed form, and is erected to form a box structure bythe vendor at the time of sale.

Set-up boxes are also to be distinguished from the type of containerknown in the trade as a wrapper, folder or folding box. A wrapper or thelike is generally used for covering articles of rectangular orparallelopipedal configuration, and is assembled in situ around thearticle to be packaged, to form an outer covering of box-likeappearance.

Set-up boxes, on the other hand, are used for storage, display, mailingand shipping, in applications where the container is required to beready for use and must provide sufcient structural strength to withstandhandling and stacking, while protecting the contents thereof.

In a set-up box, it is desirable that the tray, or receptacle portion,be adapted to nest within the cover, so that the cover portion can beremoved by lifting it off, as is customary when using a conventionaltwo-piece box such as a candy box or the like. It is also desirable,however, to provide a one-piece box, in which the cover is integrallyconnected to the tray or receptacle portion. Such a onepiececonstruction provides economies in manufacture and convenience in use,because the cover is permanently associated with the tray, and it isunnecessary to keep track of two separate items.

It is also desirable, in such a box, to provide a construction which caneasily be closed and reopened, but which when closed will tend to remainclosed without requiring the use of locking tabs or the like, or theapplication of external means such as locking tabs, rubber bands,adhesive tapes, or the like.

Another desirable feature in a box of the type described is that it beso constructed as to be capable of bearing loads and/ or impacts, as areexperienced in normal stacking, mailing and shipping, withoutdeformation. This requirement, in turn, generally requires the use of afairly strong material of construction, such as heavy cardboard,boxboard, or corrugated paperboard. Such materials have appreciablethickness, and cannot be treated as essentially two-dimensionalmaterials, as is the common practice when making boxes of thin cardboardor the like, such as is commonly used for folding boxes and the like.

In conventional set-up boxes, it is common practice to provide a tray orreceptacle portion and a cover of construction similar to that of thetray, the tray and the cover having one wall in common, which serves asa hinge and as a connecting member to hold the cover portion in properposition with respect to the tray portion. In some of the conventionalboxes, the cover portion is relatively shallow relative to the trayportion. In boxes of this type,

the strength of the box under vertical compressive stress is essentiallythe compressive strength of the three side- Walls of the tray portionand the fourth, or common, wall which serves as the hinge. When stackedtoo high or subjected to the Weight of heavy objects, such boxes tend tosquash down in a random manner, depending on incidental minor variationsin strength among the walls of the tray portion and the hinge member. Inknown types of set-up boxes, the hinged cover portion cannot completelytelescope over the tray since there is no provision for the requisiteswing of the cover at the rear base. Furthermore, in known boxes,vertical compressive stresses are borne, on the sides and front of thebox, partly by the walls of the tray and partly by the walls of thecover. At the rear of the box, however, the stress is supported only bythe single thickness of the common wall constituting the hinge portion.In such boxes, therefore, the rear or hinge portion of the boxconstitutes a relatively weak portion, and the box tends to collapse,when vertically compressed, preferentially at the rear thereof.

When a box of the latter type is made from material of substantialthickness, such as corrugated paperboard, for example, and the sidewallsand front wall of the cover are made the same height as the sidewallsand front wall of the tray, the upper edges of the tray walls bearagainst the inner surface of the top of the cover, and elevate the loweredges of the Walls of the cover slightly above the level of thesupporting surface on which the tray rests. Under such conditions, undervertical compression, the box tends to collapse randomly at iirst, untilthe bottoms of the cover walls rest on the supporting surface, afterwhich the box tends to collapse preferentially at the rear or hingeportion.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved set-upbox, wherein double Wall strength is provided along the four sides ofthe box.

Another object is to provide an improved blank for a set-up box, thetype indicated based on diecutting of an unusual geometric shape.

Still another object is to provide a set-up box of the type indicatedand a blank therefore, wherein an integral hinge portion connects a trayor receptacle portion thereof with a cover for said tray portion and afully telescoped cover is provided.

A further object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, saidset-up box being easily closed and reopened, but havin-gr thecharacteristic of tending when closed to remain in the closed conditionwithout requiring external closure means or special features such aslocking tabs or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, saidblank being made of a material having substantial thickness and of suchconfiguration as to provide a set-up box characterized by a tray havingvertical walls and a cover therefor also having vertical walls, saidwalls being substantially coextensive in a vertical direction when saidbox is in closed condition, such that both said walls of said tray andsaid walls of said cover participate in supporting a verticalcompressive load applied to said box.

Another object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, said boxhaving a tray and a cover therefor, said tray and said cover having acommon vertical wall serving as a hinge member, provided withreinforcing means to strengthen said box in the region of said hingemember against vertical compressive stresses.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a box having a traycomprising a Hoor, a front wall and at least two side walls, said frontwall and said side walls being of substantially equal height above saidoor.

Another feature is the provision of a box having a tray and a coverthere-for, said cover comprising a ceiling, a front wall and at leasttwo side walls, said front wall and said side walls depending generallyvertically from said ceiling and being of substantially equal Verticalheight, measured from said ceiling.

Another feature is the provision of a box having a tray comprising afloor, a front wall and at least two side walls, a cover comprising aceiling, a front wall and two side walls, and a hinge portion connectinga rear margin of said cover with a rear margin of said floor, said traybeing of a size to nest closely within said cover.

According to another feature, the y,blank is cut and scored to provideextensions of the cover side Walls which extensions are adapted to befolded inwardly against the interior of the hinge portion formingreinforcing flaps therefor.

According to still another feature, the reinforcing flaps are providedwith parallel marignal edges spaced apart -a distance substantiallyequal to the interior height of said hinge portion, and adapted, whensaid box is in closed condition, to bear simultaneously against thefloor of the tray and the ceiling of the cover adjacent the interiorface of the hinge.

According to another feature, the blank is scored to provide a coverhaving a dimension, measured from the inside front of said cover to theinside of said hinge, exceeding the corresponding dimension of saidfloor by an amount approximating the thickness of the material of theblank.

According to still another feature, the blank is scored to porvide acover with a ceiling having a width, measured between the inner faces ofthe sidewalls, exceeding the corresponding width of the floor of thetray by an amount approximating twice the thickness of the material ofthe blank.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the margins ofthe blank corresponding to the edges of the cover side walls are spacedfrom the cover side wall score lines by an amount exceeding thecorresponding dimension of the tray side walls by approximately thethickness of the material of the blank.

According to still another feature, the edge of the blank correspondingto the front wall of the cover is spaced from the cover front wall scoreline by an amount exceeding the corresponding dimension of the tray byapproximately the thickness of the material of the blank.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a tray sideflap having an upper marginal portion, in the assembled and closedcondition of the box, having appreciable resilience under compressionand having a length substantially equal to the front-to-rear interiordimension of the box, measured from the interior face of the tray fr ontwall to the interior face of the hinge reinforcing flap.

According to yet 4another feature of the invention, the tray side flaps,below said upper marginal portion, are provided on the ends thereofnearest the hinge with camming surfaces adapted to facilitate closure ofthe box by guiding the hinge reinforcing aps into position parallel withand contacting the interior of the hinge as the box is closed.

A further feature resides in the construction whereby the ends of thehinge members are defined by a pair of cuts constituting extensions ofthe cover side flap score lines, each tray side flap score line isoffset inwardly from the corresponding cover side flap score line andhinge end cut by a distance approximating the thickness of the blankmaterial, and the inner margins of the hinge reinforcing flaps aredefined by cuts coinciding with the hinge end cuts and extendingtherebeyond obliquely inwardly for a short distance sufficient tointersect the tray side wall score marks.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from thefolowing more complete description and claim, and the accompanyingdrawings.

In one particularly desirable embodiment, this invention contemplates aHYBRID box comprising in combination a tray member, a cover member and ahinge member, said tray member comprising a iioor, a front Wall and twoside walls, said hinge member being integrally connected to a rearmarginal edge of said floor, said cover member comprising a ceiling, afront wall and two side walls, said hinge member being inetgrallyconnected to a rear marginal edge of said ceiling, said ceiling havng awidth exceeding the width of said floor by approximately twice thethickness of the material of the box and a dimension measured from theinside face of said cover front wall to the inside face of said hingeexceeding the corresponding dimension of said iioor by approximately thethickness of the material of said box.

In another particularly desirable aspect, this invention contemplates ablank for a HYBRID box consisting of a sheet of material appropriatelycut and scored to define the following elements: a hinge member definedby a pair of parallel end edges, a hinge-cover score line perpendicularto said end edges, and a hinge-tray score line parallel with saidhinge-cover score line; a rectangular cover ceiling defined by saidhinge-cover score line, a cover-front score line parallel thereto, and apair of cover-side score line constituting extensions of said hinge-endedges; a rectangular cover front defined by said cover-front score line,an edge parallel thereto, and a pair of side edges constitutingextensions of said cover-side score lines; a pair of rectangular coversides, each of said sides being deiined by one of said cover-side scorelines, an edge parallel thereto and spaced therefrom a distancesubstantially equal to the distance between said cover-front score lineand said cover-front edge parallel thereto, an end edge constituting anextension of said cover-front score line, and a ap score line parallelwith said end edge; a pair of flaps, each of said iiaps being joined toone of said cover sides along said flap score line, each of said flapsbeing defined by said flap score line, an inner edge perpendicular tosaid flap score line, an outer edge parallel with said inner edge, and adistal edge connecting said outer edge with said inner edge; arectangular tray floor connected to said hinge member along saidhinge-tray score line and dened by said hinge-tray score line, atray-front score line parallel thereto, and a pair of tray-side scorelines perpendicular to said hinge-tray score line; a rectangular trayfront connected to said tray floor along said trayfront score line, saidtray front being defined by said trayfront score linean edge parellelthereto, and a pair of end edges constituting extensions of saidtray-side score lines; a pair of tray sides, each of said tray sidesbeing connected to said tray iioor along one of said tray-side scorelines and defined by said tray-side score line, an edge parallel withsaid tray-side score line and spaced therefrom by an amount equal to thespacing between said trayfront score line and said tray front edgeparallel thereto, and a third edge connecting said tray-side score linewith said tray side edge parallel thereto.

Referring now to the iigures:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a blank according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIGURE 1 partiallyset up to form a box according to the invention;

l FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale taken on the line3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2, showing a furtherstage in the setting up of the blank to form a box;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the box ready to be closed:

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 6 6of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section similar to FIGURE 6, showing the box inclosed condition.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, the box blank of thisinvention comprises a hinge member 10 defined by a pair of parallel endedges 12, a hinge-cover score line 14 and a hinge-tray score line 16.Connected to hinge member along hinge-cover score line 14 is the ceilingportion 18 of the cover. Ceiling 18 is defined by a hinge-cover scoreline 14, cover-front score line 20, and cover-side score lines 22. Itwill be noted that cover-side score lines 22 constitute extensions ofhinge end edges 12.

Connected to cover ceiling 18 along cover-front score line 20 is coverfront 24. Cover front 24 is defined by cover-front score line 20, edge26 parallel thereto (edge 26 preferably being interrupted by fingerindentation 28), and side edges 30. It will be noted that side edges 30constitute extensions of cover-side score lines 22.

Connected to the sides of cover ceiling 18 along coverside score 22 area pair of cover sides 32. Each of cover sides 32 is defined by one ofcover-side score lines 22, an edge 34 parallel to and spaced from scoreline 22, -an end edge 36, and a flap score line 38. It will be notedthat ap score lines 38 are parallel with end edges 36 and are notextensions of hinge-cover score line 14, but rather are offset therefromtoward the cover front by a small increment, corresponding approximatelyto the thickness of the material from which the blank is made.

Connected to cover sides 32 along ap score lines 38 are a pair of flaps40. Each of aps 40 is -deined by a flap score line 38, an inner flapedge 42 which is perpendicular to flap score line 38 and, in theembodiment illustrated, abuts hinge end edge 12, an outer edge 44parallel with inner edge 42, and a distal edge 46 connecting inner edge42 with outer edge 44. With respect to the flaps it should be noted thatouter edge 44 is not an extension of cover side edge 34, but is offsetinwardly therefrom by an amount approximating the thickness of the blankmaterial. Also, that the flaps are not rectangular, by reason, by reasonof the illustrated deviations from rectangularity at distal edge 46 andthe lower end of inner edge 42. These deviations are not required forthe functioning of the aps, which might equally well be rectangular, butrather are caused by requirements relating to the tray floor -and thetray sides, more fully discussed below.

Tray iioor 48 is connected to hinge 10 along hingetray score line 16,and is defined by score line 16, a pair of tray-side score lines 50,tray-front score line 52, and two short oblique edges 54 at the upperends of trayside score lines 50. Tray-side score lines 50 areperpendicular to hinge-tray score line 54. They are not extensions ofhing end edges 12, but are offset inwardly therefrom on each side by adistance approximating noted above, is smaller by approximately thethickness of the blank material, than the distance between edge 26 andscore line 20, or between edge 34 and score line 22.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the blank after it has been partially set up toform a box. Cover front 24 `and cover sides 32 have been folded upwardlyat substantially right angles to the plane of cover ceiling 18, andtheir ends have been united to form right-angled dihedral corners by theapplication of corner binders 70. In addition, flaps 40 have been foldedinwardly to lie substantially along hingecover score line 14. Sides 32and front 24, being of equal width as measured from their respectivescore lines, fold up to form a three-walled structure of uniform wallheight. Flap 40, forming the fourth wall, rise to a slightly lesserelevation because of the inward offset of edges 44 with respect to edges34 (see FIGURE 1). The reduced height of flaps 40 is shown more clearlyin FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a later stage in the formation of the set-up box from theblank. In the condition shown in FIGURE 4, tray sides 56 and tray front64 have been folded upwardly to planes substantially perpendicular tothe plane of tray floor 48 and held in place with corner binders 70.Because edge 66 of the tray front and edges 58 of the tray sides laresubstantially equidistant from their respective score lines, theresulting three-walled structure is of substantially uniform heightthroughout. It will be recalled that the spacing of these latter threeedges from their respective score lines is less than that of edges 34and 26 from their respective score lines, whence it follows that thethree-sided tray structure just described is lower by one thickness ofbox-blank material than the cover structure comprising edges 34 and 26.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the condition of the box as it is starting to beclosed. It will be noted that, because score lines 50 are inwardlyoffset from score lines 22, the rear edges 62 of tray sides 56 willnormally tend to enter the interior of the cover, closely parallel withthe interior faces of cover sides 32. In so doing, they confine flaps 40between tray side rear edges 62 and hinge 10. As the box is closed,camming segments 62b bear against edges 42 of the flaps, forcing theflaps toward the inner face of hinge 10. Finally, as the box reaches thefully closed condition (FIGURE 7), `straight-line segment 62a of rearedge 62 of tray side 56 comes to bear against flap 40, pressing it intoposition flush against the inner face of hinge 10.

It will be noted that, because of the relative dimensions of the partsas above specified, the assembled box in closed condition (FIGURE 7) ischaracterized by a configuration in which the front wall 64 of the trayrests snugly ush with the inner face of cover front 24, and is heldthereby by the compressive force of tray sides 56, which is connected atits forward edge to tray front 64 and bears rearwardly, viastraight-line segment 62a against ap 40, which in turn rests againsthinge 10. The box can be brought from an open to a closed condition, andreopened, Without deformation. In normal use of the box according to theinvention, cam action allows for the swing of the cover and a pressuretit is obtained through close tolerance of the diecut offset portions.It is only necessary to apply a moderate force either to open the box orto close it, and the box of the invention opens and closes with acharacteristic snap reminiscent of much more complicated and expensiveboxes such as jewelry boxes equipped with spring-loaded catches and thelike. For the same reasons, the box, when closed, tends to remain4closed until intentionally opened, greatly reducing the Adanger ofspillage of the contents, etc. While this invention has been describedwith reference to a certain preferred embodiment, and illustrated by wayvof certain drawings, these are illustrative only, as many alternativesand equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the spirit or proper scope of the invention. Theinvention is therefore not to be construed as limited, except as setforth in the appended claim.

We claim:

A set-up box comprising in combination a tray member, a cover member anda hinge member, said tray member comprising a floor, a front wall andtwo side walls said hinge member being connected to a rear marginal edgeof said licor, said cover member comprising a ceiling, a front wall andtwo side walls, said hinge member being integrally connected to a. rearmarginal edge of said ceiling, said sidewalls of said cover beingprovided with extensions which extensions are adapted to be foldedinwardly against the interior of said hinge member forming reinforcingaps therefor, with the result that double wall strength is providedalong the four sides of said box, said -ceiling having a width exceedingthe width of said door by approximately twice the thickness of thematerial of said box and a dimension measured from the inside face ofsaid cover front wall to the inside face of said hinge exceeding thecorresponding dimension of said floor by approximately the thickness ofthe material of said box, and said tray side walls being provided at theends thereof nearest said hinge with camming edges adapted to urge saidaps into flush contact with said hinge.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSSpare 229-33 Stopper 229-33 Goldstein 229-33 Boitel 229-33 XR Schabes229-33 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,528 12/1958 Germany.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 5 GEORGE o. RALSTON, Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

